Land Grabbing: Delta Investigates Traditional Ruler

Determined to nip in the bud the brewing conflict in Owa Kingdom, Ika North-East local government area of Delta State, the state government has commenced an investigative inquiry into alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi Emmanuel Efeizomor.

Owa-Oyibu Development Initiative (ADI) had earlier protested and planned a state-wide protest over the matter, but soft-pedalled following an appeal by the leadership of the State House of Assembly.

The special adviser to the state governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor, who is leading the inquiry process, confirmed he has received evidential testimonies from some of the aggrieved persons, the majority of whom are widows.

He assured that the state government would speed up the investigation to resolve the crisis peacefully. While enjoining the aggrieved parties to sheath their swords, assuring that the state government would get to the root of the matter, he said the administration of Sheriff Oborevwori was irrevocably committed to ensuring that no Deltan is victimised by anyone on account of his or her financial or social status.

He enjoined the youths in the community to give the state government the benefit of the doubt by remaining peaceful and calm.

Addressing over 100 people, all of whom are Owa Kingdom indigenes, the Governor’s aide said, “We have gotten enough evidence from you that would help us in our investigation process. I want to commend you for your peaceful disposition so far. Meanwhile, we wish to appeal that you continue to maintain the existing peace even as we continue in our investigation.”

However, the leader of the group and chairman of the Owa-Oyibu Development Initiative (Ogha-ni-ihun Oyibu), Hon. Benson Nkeki, said that the meeting was an aftermath of the group’s protest against the alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi Emmanuel Efeizomor.

Nkeki assured that following the intervention by the state government vis-a-vis the ongoing investigative inquiry into the allegation, the group is committed to giving the state government the benefit of the doubt.

He said the group had decided to embark on a wide protest against the monarch and the palace over alleged high-handedness, bothering largely on land grabbing and forcefully dispossessing land owners of their lands under pretense.

“As law-abiding citizens, we are prepared to give the state government the benefit of the doubt. If things are not done the way they should be, we will continue with our protest even to the National Assembly level and beyond,” Nkeki said.